Voltage regulator



April 15, 1947. G. F. STARNES VOLTAGE REGULATOR Filed Aug. so, 1943 I5 Sheets-Sheet l (Ittome April 15, 1947.

G. F. STARNES VOLTAGE REGULATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZSnventor April 15, 1947. STARNES 2,419,176

VOLTAGE REGULATOR Filed Aug. 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3nnentor By flx lm,

Patented Apr. 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VOLTAGE EREGULATOR GcorgeF. Starnes, Hickory; N C.

Application August 30, 1943, Serial No. 500,530.

Claims.

1 This. invention relates to a voltage regulator, and may be uscdin electrical circuit for regulating the. voltage, or it may be used as an electrotherapeutic machine for treating a person who by manipulating the machine can control the amount of voltage which is allowed to passthrough the body of'the operator seizing the two handles of the apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a voltage. regulator which can be used in lighting circuits for houses and the like, or which can also be used in an electro-therapeutic machine, whereby aplurality of resistances such as incandescent bulbs are disposed in a circuit in parallel relation andby gradually disconnecting these bulbs, one at a time, from the circuit, the voltage in the circuit can be increased.

It is a further. object of this invention to egulate..tlie.voltage in a circuit by placing a plurality of resistances therein, so that only a given flow of voltage can pass through the circuit, together with. means for disconnecting a plurality of these resistances from the circuit to increase the voltage flowing. through the circuit.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, oth r objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure. 1 is .a top plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side'elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is anenlars'ed detail viewof the lower right-hand portion of Figure 2;

Figure -4'isa schematicwiring diagram of the apparatus:

Referring more specifically to the drawings; the numeral I02 indicates a base board having' an upstanding back'portion Ii and an upstanding frontboard I21 Secured in the front board IZis a U-shaped pipe IS in the legs of which there'is' slidably mounted a rod [4 with its reversely turned handle portion l-ia. This rod is also slidably mounted'in' an upstanding block IS on which a plurality "of leaf "spring contact members i6, H, l8, I9, 20, and 2! are mounted, which are adapted to normally press against an upstandingmetallic post 22 which isintegral with rod I4; The rod Mhaspivotally secured thereto on bolt '23 an arm .Zfof-non-conducting or insulating material and on the free end of this arm 24, there is mounted a metallic member 25. pivotally secured on the free end thereof a metallic contact pin 26 whichslidably penetrates the chute member 27 and bridges the coin slot28" therein. The coin chuteZlf has a fixed metallic pin29 which bridges the slot 28.

This member 25 has Themeans. formounting the member 24 on the endof rod M by meansof screw 23 'is' a friction.

thereon in which ametallic pin 4 l isprovided'and connectedto this -pin =4l is awire 42' which leads to -arm25 and'contact pin 26. A wire 45v is connected to. pin.29 and :leadsbackto fixed handle 43 mounted in the front board l2. A leaf spring contact member 44 is. mounted-on theinsideflsurface of board I2,-and..is adapted to eontactlthe metallicpin 4i when-the rod .14 isslid forwardly or to the right inFiguresl, ,2,'a-nd 4.

The pinsiiil andJZfi in. normal. position both bridge theslot' 28, and whenma .eoiniis dropped therein, the pins and. coin form'aswitch to close the circuitfrom pin 4| to handle 43L Mounted on base board; l D-i' ..a..pluralityof resistances such as electricfllightbulbs 60, 61, 62,

63, 64, 65, 66,63, 68, 69, .lOIandflL' A source of electrical energy. is indicated at 51, which may bea storage battery but preferably it is a 110 volt A. C; source ofsupply. One side of-theelectrio wiringis.indicatedcat13-andthe other side isindicated. atlTfi-l' The side. Iii-off the circuit leadsto one side -of'resistances.-. or bulbs 6D; 6!, and 62;

bulb'S'65, 64} and 63' respectively. A wire 15 is connected to the othersides of bulbs 63; .65, and 65, and leads to leaf spring member 44. The wire 16 is connected to oneside ofresistancesior bulbs 66, E9, 61, 10;" 68, andll respectively. A wire. "leads from the other side of resistance or incandescentbulb'fifitoleaf springswitch 20. Wire 78 leads from'the otherside of'b'ulb" 69"to' leaf spring ,i2l. Wire l9'1eads'from" the other side of resistancelfl, and" is connected to leaf spring 19;. Wire *lea'ds'from'tlie'othersideof resistance or'bulbll; and connected to the leaf spring ,switchmember "l8; Wire-'81 "leads from the other side ofresistance 61* and is connected to leaf spring member I1; and wire'82 leads from the other side-of resistance liili andis connected to leaf spring member i 6.

Anotherwire 74 leads from the other side of resistancesifljtl, and'BZtoone side of Mounted on the base board 19 is a in 85 against which the member 24 is adapted to rest when the parts are in normal position. The parts are held in normal position by means of a tension spring 85 which is anchored to the front wall l2 as at 8! and is anchored to post 22. The tension of this spring normally pulls the block 49 against the forward end of pipe l3, holds the parts in the position shown in Figures 1, 2, and e. In Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus is shown as machine for imparting electrical shocks to a person and having the handles 34 and In Fi ure 4, where a schematic wiring diagram shown, the apparatus is shown as being capable of being used not only as an electro-therapeutic machine, but also as a circuit controller, and in this View instead of the rod i4 being pushed forward manually by the person receiving the shock, there is shown a pair of upstanding brackets 99 and Si through which a threaded rod 92 is slidably passed, and .between these brackets there is threadably mounted on threaded rod 92 a wheel 93, and the right-hand end of the threaded rod 92 is adapted to fit against the upright portion of handle member M A wire is connected to handle 43 and passes to a resistance 95 which may be a suitable electrical resistance or rheostat or a house or building lighting circuit and from this resistance 95, a wire 96 is led to the rod l4.

Method of operation With switches 93 and E99 open, let us assume that a coin is dropped into coin chute 28 and the operator seizes the upright portion of handle M and the upright portion or left hand end of rod l4, squeezes same, and also places his other hand on the handle 43, and by a slight forward movement of rod |4, contact pin 4| is caused to engage leaf spring 44. In this position and before further right hand movement in Figures 1 and 2 is imparted to the rod M, the current will pass through wire 73 and through incandescent bulbs or resistances 69, 6|, and B2, and along wire 74 and through resistances 63, 64, and 65, and through wire to leaf spring 44, and through pin 4| and through wire 42, switch 50, wire 4-5, and to handle 43, through wire 94, resistance 95, and wire 96. The resistance 95 which when used as an elcctro-therapeutic machine would be the human body. After passing through the resistance 95, the current will pass through rod i4, since block 49 is an insulation block, and will pass through post 22 and through all of eaf springs I6 to 2| inclusive, and through all of wires ll, i8, HS, 79, 89, 8|, 82, through all of the resistances or incandescent bulbs 69 to i l, inclusive and back through wire 15 to the other side of the circuit. In this case, all of the resistances would be in the circuit, and a slight shock would be imparted to the man seizing the handles l4 and 43. It will be noted by referring to Figure 1 that the leaf springs to E! are curved at different points and have flat end portions of gradually increasing length progressing from spring it which has, the shortest fiat portion near its end to spring 2% which has the longest flat portion as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. The ends of these fiat portions are designated by break lines ifi to Elk As the rod |4 is pressed forwardly or to the right in Figures 1 and 2, the post 22 will be shifted out of contact progressively one at a time with the leaf springs |6 to 2| respectively. As the rod passes out of contact with leaf spring I6, the resistance 68 will be disconnected, and as the rod moves further to the right in Figures 1, 2, and 4,

he leaf springs l1, |B, |9, 20, and 2| will progressively pass out of contact with the post 22. and therefore the resistances 61, 1|, 10 and 69 will be disconnected from the circuit until finally only leaf spring 2| together with its resistance 59 will be in the circuit, and therefore, the only resistance in the circuit will be resistances 60 to inclusive and resistance 59. If the person can stand this much voltage, he can then push the rod |4 further to the right, which will move the post 22 out of contact with the last or lowermost leaf spring 2|, and this will completely disconnect the circuit and the operation will be completed. At this time, it will be observed that member 24 will have moved forward out of contact with he pin 85, and will be occupying a. position at approximately right angles to the rod l4. And due to the friction joint between member 24 and rod M, as rod |4 moves to the left under the pull of tension spring 88, when the operator releases the handle portion H of rod M, the pin 26 will be withdrawn from across the coin chute 28 as the rod moves backwardly, and this will allow the coin within the coin chute to fall into a coin box C, but when this occurs, the member 24 will strike pin 85, and as the rod l4 moves further to the left in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the pin 26 will be moved back to a position to bridge the coin slot 29, and ready for the reception of another coin for another user of the shocking machine. Of course, if this is not used for a shocking machine, but is used purely as a voltage regulator, then the coin slot mechanism would be dispensed with, and it would be a closed circuit at all times; that is, wires 42 and 45 would be permanently connected together.

The apparatus also has a wire 91 with a switch 98 therein connecting wires 15 and 16. There is also a wire 99 with a switch Hi0 connecting wire 14 to rod l4. It has already been described as to the paths of flow of the current with switche 98 and I00 open. With switches 98 and I closed, and before a coin is dropped into chute 28, and before an operator seizes the handle 43 and the handle portion l4a, current will flow through wire 13, resistances 69, 6|, 62, wire 14, resistances 63, 94, 65 and wire 16 back to the source. Wire 99, rod 14, post 22, leaf springs IE to 2|, wires 11 to 82, resistances 66 to H and wire 15 will also be in a parallel circuit, but only an infinitesimal amount of current will flow through resistances 66 to H as the line of least resistance will be through switch 98. When a coin is dropped into the chute, or with switch 50 closed, current will flow through wire 13, tubes 69, 6|, and 62, wires '14 and 99 the rod |4, through contact leaf members 15 to 2| inclusive, and tubes 66 to H inclusive to a slight degree, but the bulk of the current will flow through resistances 63, 64, 65, and wires 97 and 16 back to the other side of the circuit. This is assuming that resistance is not present. When resistance 95 is present either in the form of a circuit, or the human body, the current, when rod I4 is pushed forwardly to contact pin 4| with leaf spring 44, will then flow as follows:

Wire 13, incandescent bulbs 60 to 62 inclusive, wire 74, wire 99, rod I4, resistance 95 whether it be in the form of a human body, or a circuit, wire 45, switch 59, wire 42, leaf spring 44, wires 15, 91, and 16 back to the other side of the circuit. Some of the current will also be going through the rod I4, leaf spring contacts IE to 2|, and incandescent bulbs 66 to H, due to the fact that resistance 95 as for example when it is in the form of a human body is great enough to cause part of the current to flow through incandescent bulbs 65 to H as well as directly through resistances G3 to 65 and wires 57 and '56. As the handle is pushed inwardly, the leaf spring contact M to 2| inclusive will be progressively disconnected from post 22 thereby forcing more of the current through the resistance 95 until the point is reached where all of the incandescent bulbs 58 to H inclusive are disconnected from the circuit at which time maximum current will flow through resistance 95, and in this position, the course of the current will be wire l3, incandescent bulbs fill, 6i, and 62, wire Hi, wire 99, rod 14, resistance 95, wire 45-, switch 59, wire 42, leaf spring 44, wires 75, 97, and It. With the parts positioned as shown in the drawings, all bulbs are connected to the source 51. The dropping of a coin allows this current to flow to the handles [4 and 43.

It is preferable to operate the apparatus with switches 93 and iii-iii closed when it is used as a therapeutic machine for the reason that a cold incandescent bulb when current is first turned on to it will aliow a much greater amount of electricity to pass through the filament, and will impart a much greater shock to the operator than a bulb having a hot filament. By having the switches at and l to closed at all times, all of the bulbs will be energized to a greater or lesser degree, and thus when the-operator seizes the handles I l and 43, he will not get the intense shock he would otherwise.

In the drawings and specifications, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an electro-therapeutie machine, a framework, a front panel for the framework, 9, fixed handle in the front panel, a rod slidably mounted in the framework and front panel, and having a handle on the end thereof, a plurality of resist ance members mounted in the framework, an electrical circuit connected to said resistances, a post rising from said rod, a plurality of leaf spring contacts engaging said post, some of the resistances being connected on one side to said leaf spring contacts, said circuit leading through said resistances and through a resistance connected to the said handles said leaf spring contacts having flat portions of various lengths for contacting said post whereby when said rod is slid relative to the leaf spring contacts, the resistances connected to said leaf spring contacts will be disconnected, one at a time, from the circuit.

2. In an electro-theraputic machine, a framework, a fixed handle on the framework, a rod slidably mounted in the framework, and having a handle portion on one end thereof, the two handles being adapted to be engaged by a person to form a resistance therebetween, an electrical resistance mounted in the framework and having one side connected to one side of a source of electrical energy and having its other side connected to said rod and forming an electrical circuit, and having a plurality of other resistances having one side thereof connected at the other side of the source of electrical energy, and having their other sides releasably connected to said rod whereby when the rod is slid forwardly in the framework, the said other resistances will be disconnected, one at a time, from the circuit.

3. In an electro-therapeutic machine, a framework, a front panel for the framework, a fixed handle in the front panel, a rod slidably mounted in the framework and front panel, and having a handle on the end thereof, a plurality of resistance members mounted in the framework, an electrical circuit connected to said resistances, a post rising from said rod, a plurality of leaf spring contacts engaging said post, some of the resistances being connected on one side to said leaf spring contacts, said circuit leading through said resistances and being adapted to include a patient in contact with said handles, said leaf spring contacts having flat portions of various lengths for contacting said post whereby when said rod is slid relative to the leaf spring contacts, the resistances connected to said leaf spring contacts will be disconnected, one at a time, from the circuit, a coin controlled switch disposed between one side of said circuit and said fixed handle, said rod having an arm pivotally mounted there-on, friction means for delaying movement of said arm on its pivot, a pin on said arm forming a part of said coin-controlled switch, and a stop on said framework for engaging said arm and causing the same to pivot on the rod as the rod returns to normal position to move the pin on the arm into position to close the circuit when a coin is inserted in the coin controlled switch.

4. A voltage regulator comprising a framework, a fixed handle on the framework, a metallic rod slidably mounted in the framework and having a handle thereon disposed on the exterior of the framework, both of said handles being adapted to have a suitable resistance connected thereto, a post integral with said handle, a plurality of leaf spring contacts mounted in the framework and having end portions of different lengths for engaging said post, an insulation block mounted on said rod and having a metallic pin therein, a leaf spring member mounted in the framework, and being adapted to engage said pin when the rod is slid forwardly in the framework, a source of electrical energy, a second resistance having one side thereof connected to one side of said source, the other side of the resistance being connected to said rod, a connection between said pin and said fixed handle, whereby when the rod is slid forwardly the circuit will be established through the resistance between the handles and through said second resistance, a third resistance in said framework having one side thereof connected to the said one side of the source of electrical energy, a connection between the other side of said third resistance and said leaf spring member mounted in the framework, a plurality of other resistances having one side thereof connected to said other side of said source of electrical energy, the other sides of the plurality of said resistances being connected to said leaf spring contact members contacting the post integral with said rod, whereby a circuit will be established through all of said resistances, and through the resistance between the handle members, and when the rod is slid forwardly, the leaf spring members will gradually, one at a time, be disconnected from said post by the post sliding out of contact excessively with the straight end portions, to thereby disconnect said other resistances, one at a time, to cause a greater voltage in the circuit passing through the second and third resistances, and through the resistance between the handle members.

5. A voltage regulator comprising a framework, a fixed handle on the framework, a metallic rod slidably mounted in the framework, and having a handle thereon disposed on the exterior of the framework, both of said handles being adapted to have a suitable resistance connected thereto, a post integral with said handle, a plurality of leaf spring contacts mounted in the framework and having their free end portions of varying lengths for engaging said post, an insulation block mounted on said rod and having a metallic pin therein, a leaf spring member mounted in the framework and being adapted to engage said pin when the rod is slid forwardly in the framework, a source of electrical energy, a second resistance having one side thereof connected to one side of said source, the other side of the second resistance being connected to said rod, a connection between said pin and said fixed handle, whereby when the rod is slid forwardly the circuit will be established through the resistance between the handles and through said second resistance, a third resistance in said framework having one side thereof connected to the said one side of the source of electrical energy, a connection between the other side of said third resistance and said leaf spring member mounted in the framework, a plurality of other resistances mounted in the framework having one side thereof connected to the said other side of said source of electrical energy, the other sides of the plurality of said resistances being connected to said leaf spring contact members contacting the post integral with said rod, whereby a circuit will be established through all of said resistances, and through the first resistance disposed between the handle members and when the rod is slid forwardly, the leaf spring members will gradually, one at a time, be disconnected from said post, to thereby disconnect said other resistances, one at a time, to cause a greater voltage in the first and second resistances, and the resistance between the handle members, and a coin controlled switch in the circuit leading from the pin in the insulation block to the said fixed handle.

GEORGE F. STARNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

